Tributes paid to a devoted family man and charity fundraiser

Tributes have been paid to a devoted family man who helped to organise charity fundraising events. Stuart Edward Anderson, of Fern Avenue, Oswaldtwistle, died peacefully on Saturday, June 8, aged 85, with his wife of more than 60 years, Marilyn, and his family by his side.

The beloved father-of-two made many connections through The Accrington Round Table and 41 club where he played an active role in organising charity fundraising events and the Accrington Carnival.

His son, Mark, said: “He was the soul of any party with a great sense of humour and a very placid and kind person.”

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Stuart was born to parents Bert and Kath and raised in Accrington on Norfolk Street with his late sister, Joy, and brothers Tony and Jon. The devoted grandfather-of-three was employed by Bird’s Eye Frozen Foods, working as a national accounts manager for England for more than 45 years, with his main customers being Asda and Tesco.

Stuart met his wife Marilyn at the Cambridge Street Methodist Church in Accrington. They got married in 1962 and had their much-loved children Mark and Louise.

The couple enjoyed annual holidays to Lanzarote for about 25 years. The former St John’s school pupil was a keen golfer at Baxenden Golf Club, which he joined in the 1970s.

He was also a member of Clitheroe Golf Club for many years. Stuart’s family are well known in Accrington for their contributions to ballroom dancing and music.

His dad, Bert, and mum, Kath, who were crowned champion ballroom dancers, ran the Ritz Ballroom in Accrington on Church Street in the 1950s. Stuart’s brothers, Tony and Jon, formed a beat band called The Warriors in Accrington in 1960 and toured across the world including in France, Germany and Belgium.

Jon, who was the lead singer of rock band Yes, is touring in America at the moment at the grand age of 79.